Event Archive
February 2010
2/1/2010
Web Marketing & Social Media for Small Business
Chelsea Library, WCC, & MI-SBTDC
Visit the Chelsea Library for a seminar on online marketing techniques that can help you harness the power of the Internet and social networking websites to grow your business.
2/3/2010
Book Review: “The Art of the Start" by Guy Kawasaki
LA2M - Lunch Ann Arbor Marketing
This week’s LA2M presentation is taking a slightly different approach to its popular lunch series. We’re featuring a Book Review – but not just any book. Charles Hammerslough is going to provide an overview, and highlight some of key features of Guy Kawasaki’s book, “The Art of the Start”.
The book itself is packed full of useful information on starting and running a new venture – and Charles will share his opinion on some of the best pieces of advise on offer. “The Art of the Start” is considered, by some, as a must-read for any small business entrepreneur.
Charles’ presentation will give you a flavor of this popular business book and help you decide if you would like to read the book yourself.
2/3/2010
Entrepreneur Education 2.0: Growing Sales
Ann Arbor SPARK
Growing sales in an early stage technology company can be the greatest challenge. While your customers struggle to understand the value in a new solution, you must develop the habits and mindset that engages customers to learn where they find value and to develop an explicit agreement on the value they will receive. This unit will help you explore the sales barriers you face both externally and within yourself, and the systems and methods for accelerating sales.
2/4/2010
The Business Side of Energy Conservation (Energy Technology Forum)
Ann Arbor SPARK
Conserving energy isn’t just about using different light bulbs. There are vast policy changes that are reshaping the landscape and creating business opportunities for savvy entrepreneurs. Come to this interactive event where you can hear from leading policy makers and business leaders and learn about key policy initiatives that are driving business development in the private sector.
2/5/2010
Entrepreneurship Hour
Center for Entrepreneurship
MPowered and the Center for Entrepreneurship present Stephanie LaCrosse in “Connecting the Dots: Lessons as You Begin Your Journey.”
2/9/2010
Ann Arbor OpenCoffee
Ann Arbor SPARK
This is a networking event for entrepreneurs, investors and those who work with technology & innovation businesses, particularly in IT, cleantech and life sciences.
2/9/2010
Marketing Roundtable - Event Marketing
Ann Arbor SPARK
Meeting face-to-face with clients through event and trade show marketing can play a
highly important role within your strategic marketing plan. Learn how to increase lead
generation, engage your prospects and increase brand awareness toward improving
your bottom line.
This diverse panel will discuss the importance of setting event expectations, the
strategic planning process, and the evaluation of your event ROI. Some topics that
will be covered include: Event Planning Partners, Event Technology, Trends & Best
Practices. So come with your questions to pose to this panel of experts.
2/10/2010
Using Radio to Beef Up Your Brand
LA2M - Lunch Ann Arbor Marketing
Branding is a concept that sometimes gets boiled down to a fancy logo and a pleasing color scheme. In reality, it's much more than that. Branding encompasses EVERYTHING that your potential clients and customers come in contact with. From the way that you answer your phones, to the way that you sign your emails, your brand carries into many arenas. In today's increasingly digital world, is there a place for your brand on radio? Not only is there a place, but Kyle will explain why radio is an important part to bringing your brand to the world, and one of your strongest brand cues.
2/10/2010
BioArbor: Avoiding the Turnaround CEO
MichBio
Every business goes through up and down cycles but the extremes of these cycles can be amplified in small or start-up businesses. In either case, the Board of Directors may decide that the founder, CEO, CTO or CSO does not have the skills necessary to take the business to the next level. You can expect to learn from this panel the early warning signs of an impending management change and the actions that you take to mitigate the chances that you will meet the turn-around CEO.Please join us for this engaging panel discussion.
2/11/2010
Team SBA Roundtable
MI-SBTDC
Team SBA is a round table session where you can learn what is required from a lender. You’ll have opportunities to meet business counselors who can help you prepare your loan request for the bank and chances to network with other business owners.
2/11/2010
Mingle and Match
Ann Arbor SPARK
If you are launching a startup, and need people to help you, come to this high energy event where you can have 1 minute to tell about your business and what kind of help you are seeking, (advisory board member, co-founder, employee that is willing to work for stock, consultant, etc.) followed by a networking session. To be a presenter, send a one paragraph description of your business concept, along with a description of the talent that you are seeking, to Amy@AnnArborSPARK.org.
2/12/2010
Sesi Entrepreneurship Conference at EMU
EMU College of Business
Local entrepreneurs will share their success with aspiring entrepreneurs as the Eastern Michigan University College of Business presents the Sesi Midwest Entrepreneurship Conference on February 12, 2010 at the EMU Student Center.
2/12/2010
Find Your Voice in Public Policy
WXW, WIPP, Key Bank, Eagle Crest Resort
At this joint WXW and WIPP’s (Women Impacting Public Policy) event, attendees will hear stories and lessons learned from an experienced panel of women who’ve held government positions. Moderated by Mary Kramer, Publisher of Crain’s Detroit Business, the panel includes Jennifer Bisceglie, President of Interos, Nicole Nystrom, CEO of Midwest Strategy Group, Debbie Dingell, President of A2 Strategies, and Shannon Garrett, Great Lakes Regional Director of The White House Project. Barbara Kasoff, President of WIPP in Washington DC, will discuss how business women can become involved and politically active.
2/12/2010
Entrepreneurship Hour
Center for Entrepreneurship
MPowered and the Center for Entrepreneurship present Daniel Gizaw, CEO and founder of Danotek in "Danotek: Generating Clean and Affordable Energy for Everyone”
2/16/2010
Project Management: What, Why, and How
Ann Arbor Chapter of ABWA
Please join us for our upcoming monthly meeting of the Ann Arbor chapter of the American Business Women's Association (ABWA).
2/16/2010
Ann Arbor New Tech February Meetup
a2geeks
Five presenters this month take the stage for ten minutes each, five minutes to demo and five minutes to answer questions, followed by open announcements and community networking.
2/17/2010
Cleansuite Inspections Presents: CSI 2010 EXPO
SPARK East
You are invited to participate and network with other business owners in southeast Michigan.
Learn about CSI's green products and services.
Experts with over 30 years of experience in pest management will be on hand to answer any questions.
2/17/2010
Decision Making and Randomness in Marketing
LA2M - Lunch Ann Arbor Marketing
Our mental strategies for making decisions worked well when the decision was to run or be eaten by the lion, these strategies do not always serve us well in today’s complex world. As decision-makers we fall victim to biases, inappropriately extrapolate from past events, improperly use individual behavior to explain collective behavior, wrongly correlate cause and effect, and we do this exceedingly poorly when there is very little or a huge amount of information available.
2/17/2010
Entrepreneur Education 2.0: Firm Lifecycle
Ann Arbor SPARK
Ensuring that a raw start-up can mature quickly into a growth company requires the early adoption of disciplines that can evolve with the organization. Understanding the growth process can shape key decisions about company structure and management. It can also help eliminate the difficulties many entrepreneurs face in “scaling” their growing companies. This unit will discuss the growth stages, how to find advisors and consultants and work effectively with a board of directors. Finally, each growth business will need to develop partnerships and achieve a harvest or ‘exit’ event.
2/18/2010
Explore Quality Management Systems with MMTC
MMTC
Quality management is important to any company as it places an emphasis on improving your production or office processes QMS leads to greater customer satisfaction and loyalty.
2/19/2010
Google Analytics Driver's Ed Training Course
Pure Visibility, Inc.
Google Analytics is now free to all advertisers and site owners, and has been re-designed for increased effectiveness. Installing Analytics code on your site is only the first step in the process of making this powerful tool work for your organization.
Our course is a one-day workshop that provides a foundation of proven principles that will help you succeed in using Google Analytics to improve your site's performance, regardless of whether you’re a beginner just setting up your account, or a web analyst with years of experience.
Cost: $775 (10% discount for early registration)
2/19/2010
Starting Your Own Business
Ann Arbor SPARK
At this forum you will learn about personality traits that impact entrepreneurialism, create a marketing plan for your business, learn about legal, accounting, franchises, business plans and financing options. You will receive one on one counseling with a business expert and have an opportunity to get advice from a variety of business experts and organizations that are available to support new ventures.
2/19/2010
Entrepreneurship Hour
Center for Entrepreneurship
MPowered and the Center for Entrepreneurship present Anousheh Ansari at the Entrepreneurship Hour.
2/22/2010
Donuts and Search Marketing
Pure Visibility, Inc.
Overwhelmed by the vast world of Internet marketing? Pure Visibility can help with its Donuts and Search Engine Marketing seminar. This no-charge group session will give you an overview of search engine marketing, including search engine optimization, paid search advertising, and social media. You will have the chance to pose questions and we'll talk at whatever level is comfortable for the people that show up. Donuts, coffee, and search marketing experts provided. Our sessions are 8:30am – 10:00am on the 4th Friday of each month. Space is limited. Registration required.
At our Donuts and Search Engine Marketing seminar, you'll learn such things as:
* What is search marketing and how can it help me
* Is "natural"/"organic" search really free?
* What is the relative time for a return on investment in SEO, PPC and Social Media?
* How can I turn web visitors into customers?
* Why is my website not getting much search engine traffic?
* How should I plan for and budget for search marketing efforts?
2/22/2010
Borrow a Business Expert
MI-SBTDC, Chelsea Library, WCC
The Chelsea District Library will be creating a "living library" of people with unique knowledge on various business topics including: finance, human resources, law, marketing along with experienced business counselors.
2/23/2010
Franchise Business Models:
The Entrepreneur's Source
This free seminar will share information on the pros and cons of franchise ownership, how to evaluate a franchise, understanding the Franchise Disclosure Document and what franchisors are looking for in their franchisees.
2/23/2010
Hot Shots: Career Connections at Melange
Ann Arbor SPARK
Bring your resume, and come and mingle with growing, innovative companies in a fun and relaxed environment! This event is only for talent seeking opportunities for themselves. Recruiters and staffing companies should use other venues to meet with these company representatives. If you would like your company to participate, contact Amy Cell at Amy@AnnArborUSA.org.
2/24/2010
Lessons Learned in Blogging: How to Build a Better Blog
LA2M - Lunch Ann Arbor Marketing
Anyone who has ever thought about starting up a blog, has quickly found out how hard it can be to attract a sustainable audience. A blog can be a very time consuming endeavor but it also can be very rewarding at times.
2/24/2010
Tracking Consumer Behavior on Retail Websites
Ann Arbor SPARK
Spend an evening learning how retailers are tracking consumer behavior on their sites and what they do with the data. MyBuys, a Silicon Valley company with a growing office in Ann Arbor, will present how retailers provide relevant product recommendations to consumers using the MyBuys service. The MyBuys team will be on hand to discuss technology and the recruiting effort they have underway for several technology positions in their Ann Arbor office. There will be plenty of opportunity to network with others as well.
2/24/2010
Fundamentals of Starting a Business
MI-SBTDC
This free course is designed for individuals who are considering self-employment, or are at the beginning stages of starting their business.
2/25/2010
Technology Forecast Luncheon
Birmingham Bloomfield Chamber
Technology Forecast Luncheon
Thursday, February 25, 2010 11:30 a.m. - 1:30 p.m.
The Townsend Hotel - 100 Townsend, Birmingham
2/26/2010
High-Demand Careers - Focus of Free Conference
Consolidated Professional Service (CPS)
Consolidated Professional Services (CPS) is pleased to announce its First Annual PMBA (Project Management / Business Analysis) Conference. This conference offers benefits for both individuals and organizations. Individuals can strengthen their IT related skills and organizations will gain awareness of many training options and superb services focused on cost savings and process improvement.
2/26/2010
Entrepreneurship Hour
Center for Entrepreneurship
Due to the upcoming Spring Break, there are no scheduled speakers for the Entrepreneurship Hours on Friday, February 26 and Friday, March 5.
The February 26 session will be used to allow students to gain extra credit toward the class. The March 5 session is cancelled.